Variable resistance hinge

ABSTRACT

A variable resistance hinge is mounted in a notebook computer having cover and a base and the hinge has a stationary leaf, a pivoting leaf and a pressing assembly. The stationary leaf is attached to the base and has a keyed shaft. The pivoting leaf is mounted pivotally on the shaft and is attached to the cover. The pressing assembly is mounted around the shaft, presses the pivoting leaf against the stationary leaf and has a pivoting ring and a stationary ring. The pivoting ring rotates around the shaft, is attached to the pivoting leaf and has at least one stepped detent. The stationary ring engages the shaft, abuts the pivoting ring and has at least one friction protrusion. Each friction protrusion corresponds a stepped detent and provides variable friction when opening the cover to enhance lifespan of the hinge and facilitate opening of the notebook.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hinge, and more particularly to avariable resistance hinge mounting a cover pivotally to a base of anotebook computer.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

A conventional hinge is mounted between a cover having a display and abase of a notebook computer to allow the cover to pivot relative to thebase, but is often designed with a constant resistance throughout anentire pivoting movement so that the cover can be pivoted open to anydesired angle. However, if the resistance of the conventional hinge istoo great, people opening the notebook computer may struggle to open upthe cover, or the base may lift with the cover. If the resistance is toolow, people have to hold the cover to prevent the cover from rapidlyfalling and damaging the base or display and the cover cannot be held ata desired angle. Therefore, the conventional hinge with constantresistance makes opening difficult and may not be reliable at holdingthe cover open.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a variableresistance hinge to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a variableresistance hinge being mounted in a notebook computer to provide avariable resistance during opening of a cover for a notebook computer.

The variable resistance hinge is mounted in the notebook computerbetween the cover having a display and a base and comprises a stationaryleaf, a pivoting leaf and a pressing assembly. The stationary leaf isattached to the base and has a keyed shaft. The pivoting leaf is mountedpivotally on the shaft and is attached to the cover. The pressingassembly is mounted around the shaft, presses the pivoting leaf againstthe stationary leaf and has a pivoting ring and a stationary ring. Thepivoting ring rotates around the shaft, is attached to the pivoting leafand has at least one stepped detent. The stationary ring engages theshaft, abuts the pivoting ring and has at least one friction protrusion.Each friction protrusion corresponds to a stepped detent and providesvariable friction when opening the cover to enhance lifespan of thehinge and facilitate opening of the notebook.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a variable resistance hinge inaccordance with the present invention mounted in a notebook computer,shown open;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the variable resistance hingein FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the variable resistance hingein FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the variable resistance hinge in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the variable resistance hinge in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of friction elements ofthe variable resistance hinge in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the friction elements in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an operational side view of the variable resistance hinge inFIG. 2;

FIGS. 9 to 11 are enlarged operational cross-sectional views of thefriction elements of the variable resistance hinge in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second variant of a variableresistance hinge in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 12, a variable resistance hinge inaccordance with the present invention is mounted in a notebook computercomprising a cover (80) and a base (90) to allow the cover (80) to pivotrelative to the base (90). The variable resistance hinge comprises astationary leaf (10, 10A), a pivoting leaf (20, 20A) and a pressingassembly (30).

With further reference to FIG. 3, the stationary leaf (10, 10A) isattached to the base (90) of the notebook computer and has a proximalend, a distal end, an inner surface and a shaft (11, 11A).

The proximal end of the stationary leaf (10, 10A) is attached securelyto the base of the notebook computer.

The inner surface is formed perpendicularly on the distal end of thestationary leaf (10).

The shaft (11, 11A) is formed on and extends coaxially from the distalend of the stationary leaf (10, 10A), is keyed, has a proximal end, adistal end and an optional friction cylinder (112A) and may have athreaded segment (111).

The friction cylinder (112A) is formed concentrically on the proximalend of the shaft (11A).

The threaded segment (111) is formed on the distal end of the shaft (11,11A).

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the pivoting leaf (20, 20A) ismounted rotatably on the shaft (11, 11A), abuts the inner surface of thestationary leaf (10, 10A), is attached securely to the cover (80) of thenotebook computer to allow the cover (80) to pivot relative to the base(90), has a pivoting hole (21), a mounting bracket (22) and an optionalbarrel (24A) and may have a stop mount (23).

The pivoting hole (21) is formed coaxially through the pivoting leaf(20, 20A) and is mounted rotatably around the shaft (11, 11A) of thestationary leaf (10, 10A).

The mounting bracket (22) is formed on and protrudes from the pivotingleaf (20, 20A) and is attached securely to the cover (80).

The barrel (24A) is rotatably mounted tightly around the frictioncylinder (112A) to provide a friction for pivoting movement of thepivoting leaf (20A) and has a connecting protrusion (241A), a neck andan opening (242A). The connecting protrusion (241A) is formed on andprotrudes from the neck of the barrel (24A) and is attached securely tothe mounting bracket (22) of the pivoting leaf (20A). The opening (242A)is formed longitudinally in the barrel (24A) adjacent to the neck and isdisposed adjacent to the connecting protrusion (241A) towards adirection of closing the cover (80). Therefore, when a person opens thecover (80), the opening (242A) will be enlarged to provide less frictionand facilitate opening and more friction when folding the cover (80) toprevent damage to the cover (80).

The stop mount (23) is formed in the pivoting leaf (20, 20A).

The pressing assembly (30) is mounted around the shaft (11, 11A) nearthe distal end, presses the pivoting leaf (20) against the inner surfaceof the stationary leaf (10) to provide friction against rotationrelative to the stationary leaf (10), has a pivoting ring (32) and astationary ring (33) and may have a washer (31), a protecting washer(34), a biasing element (35), a friction washer (36) and a fastener(37).

With further reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the pivoting ring (32) ismounted rotatably around the shaft (11, 11A), is connected to thepivoting leaf (20), has an outer surface, a through hole (321) and atleast one stepped detent (323) and may have a protruding stop (322).

The through hole (321) is formed axially through the pivoting ring (32)and is mounted rotatably around the shaft (11, 11A).

Each stepped detent (323) is an arc formed in the outer surface of thepivoting ring (32), concentric to the through hole (321) of the pivotingring (32) and has a central recess (3231), at least one step recess(3232) and multiple gradient surfaces.

Each step recess (3232) is sequentially formed shallower than andadjacent to the central recess (3231), is parallel with the outersurface of the pivoting ring (32) and may be formed shallower than aprevious step recess (3232).

The gradient surfaces graduate from the central recess (3231) to the atleast one step recess (3232), graduate from the at least one step recess(3232) to the outer surface and may further obliquely connect twoadjacent step recesses (3232). The adjacent gradient surfaces areseparated by the at least one step recess (3232).

The protruding stop (322) is formed on and extends from the pivotingring (32), is mounted in the stop mount (23) of the pivoting leaf (20)to securely attach the pivoting ring (32) to the pivoting leaf (20).

The stationary ring (33) is mounted around and engages the shaft (11,11A), abuts and presses against the outer surface of the pivoting ring(32), has an inner surface, an outer surface, a keyed hole (331) and atleast one friction protrusion (332) and may have at least one tab (333).

The keyed hole (331) is formed through the stationary ring (33),corresponds to and engages the shaft (11, 11A).

With further reference to FIGS. 8 to 11, each friction protrusion (332)is formed on and protrudes from the inner surface of the stationary ring(33), corresponds to and abuts the stepped detent (323) and may have twoinclined surfaces. When the cover (80) is opened, the pivoting ring (32)rotates around the friction protrusion (332) causing the frictionprotrusion (332) to abut and travel along the gradient surfaces. Flowedby the step recesses (3232) thereby gradually increasing frictionalresistance until the friction protrusion (332) is abutting the outersurface of the pivoting ring (32). When the cover (80) is fully opened,a maximum friction is provided. Therefore, the cover (80) is held shutby the central recess (3231) and is progressively harder to open untilthe cover (80) is held at a convenient angle, when the frictionalresistance is greatest.

The at least one tab (333) is formed on and protrudes from the outersurface of the stationary ring (33).

The washer (31) is mounted securely around the shaft (11, 11A) betweenthe pivoting leaf (20) and the pivoting ring (32).

The protecting washer (34) is mounted securely around the shaft (11,11A), is attached securely to the outer surface of the stationary ring(33) and has at least one slot (341) and an outer surface.

The at least one slot (341) is formed in the protecting washer (34),corresponds to and engages the at least one tab (333).

The biasing element (35) comprises at least one resilient ring, ismounted rotatably around the shaft (11, 11A), abuts and presses againstthe outer surface of the protecting washer (34) and has an outersurface.

The friction washer (36) is mounted securely around the shaft (11, 11A)and abuts the outer surface of the biasing element (35).

The fastener (37) is mounted securely around the threaded segment (111)of the shaft (11, 11A) to mount the pressing assembly (30) on the shaft(11, 11A).

Consequently, with cooperation of the stepped detent (323) and thefriction protrusion (332), the variable resistance hinge provides avariable resistance for pivoting movement of the cover (80) betweenopened and folded (the resistance is largest with the cover (80) beingopened, smallest when being closed). Therefore, when closed, the biasingelements (35) are not under stress and lifespan of the biasing elementsis increased. Moreover, since the frictional resistance progressivelyincreases as the cover (80) is opened, the cover is easily separatedfrom the base (90) and need not be pried open.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and features of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

1. A variable resistance hinge comprising a stationary leaf having aproximal end; a distal end; an inner surface being formedperpendicularly on the distal end of the stationary leaf; and a shaftbeing formed on and extending coaxially from the distal end of thestationary leaf, being keyed and having a proximal end; and a distalend; a pivoting leaf being mounted rotatably on the shaft, abutting theinner surface of the stationary leaf and having a pivoting hole beingformed coaxially through the pivoting leaf and being mounted rotatablyaround the shaft; and a mounting bracket being formed on and protrudingfrom the pivoting leaf; and a pressing assembly being mounted around theshaft, pressing the pivoting leaf against the inner surface of thestationary leaf and having a pivoting ring being mounted rotatablyaround the shaft, being connected to the pivoting leaf and having anouter surface; a through hole being formed longitudinally through thepivoting ring and being mounted rotatably around the shaft; and at leastone stepped detent being formed radially in the outer surface of thepivoting ring, concentric to the through hole of the pivoting ring andhaving  a central recess;  at least one step recess being sequentiallyshallower than and adjacent to the central recess of the pivoting ring;and  multiple gradient surfaces graduating from the central recess tothe at least one step recess and then from the at least one step recessto the outer surface of the pivoting ring the gradient surfaces beingseparated by the at least one step recess; and a stationary ring beingmounted around and engaging the shaft, abutting and pressing against theouter surface of the pivoting ring and having an inner surface; an outersurface; a keyed hole being formed through the stationary ring,corresponding to and engaging the shaft; and at least one frictionprotrusion being formed on and protruding from the inner surface of thestationary ring, corresponding to and abutting the stepped detent,selectively abutting the outer surface of the pivoting ring andselectively sliding along the gradient surfaces of the at least onestepped detent.
 2. The variable resistance hinge as claimed in claim 1,wherein the shaft further has a friction cylinder being formedconcentrically on the proximal end of the shaft; the pivoting leaffurther has a barrel being rotatably mounted tightly around the frictioncylinder and having a neck; a connecting protrusion being formed on andextending from the neck of the barrel and being attached securely to themounting bracket of the pivoting leaf; and an opening being formedlongitudinally in the barrel adjacent to the neck of the barrel andbeing disposed adjacent to the connecting protrusion.
 3. The variableresistance hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pivoting leaffurther has a stop mount being formed in the pivoting leaf; the pivotingring further has a protruding stop being formed on and extending fromthe pivoting ring and being mounted in the stop mount of the pivotingleaf.
 4. The variable resistance hinge as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe shaft further has a threaded segment being formed on the distal endof the shaft; the stationary ring further has at least one tab beingformed on and protruding from the outer surface of the stationary ring;the pressing assembly further has a washer being mounted securely aroundthe shaft between the pivoting leaf and the pivoting ring; a protectingwasher being mounted securely around the shaft, being attached securelyto the outer surface of the stationary ring and having an outer surface;and at least one slot being formed in the protecting washer and engaginga corresponding tab of the stationary ring; a biasing element comprisingat least one resilient ring, being mounted rotatably around the shaft,abutting and pressing against the outer surface of the protecting washerand having an outer surface; a friction washer being mounted securelyaround the shaft and abutting the outer surface of the biasing element;and a fastener being mounted securely around the threaded segment of theshaft.
 5. The variable resistance hinge as claimed in claim 4, whereineach friction protrusion has two inclined surfaces.